Taco Bell: Social Media Analysis

Moving forward, social media has been a major convenience and reward to virtually everyone. On an individual basis, social media allows friends and family both near and far to communicate with one another. Also, businesses are flourishing through the use of social media. Advertising has never been easier. Horn (2013) states, “Our profession, unlike any time before, is demanding we become social media (…) experts” (1). Horn (2013) also states, “More than half of reporters (55 percent) use Twitter and Facebook to source stories” (1). Social media has greatly benefited business life and personal life.

Social media has become an essential channel for corporations to build a two-way relationship with their customers. However, having a social media account cannot solve everything. To make the best use of social media in keeping a positive relationship with their customers, corporations ought to seek and maintain influence among their followers in social media, and participate in communications with them.

The fast food industry both feeds and prays off the young. Pioneers in developing marketing strategies to target children, the fast-food chains have even infiltrated the nation's schools through lunchroom franchises and special advertising packages that answer public education's need for funds; in every way possible, giving the children a loyal friend to rely on. In many franchises, teenagers are perfect candidates for low-paying, low-skilled, short-term jobs and constitute a large part of the fast-food chains' workforce; and often practically run individual locations, having more responsibility than most adults.

Social media has become an influential ground for consumers to share their opinions about a company’s brand and products. In addition, it helps in having a strong brand that produces positive relations and distinguish the brand from competitors, is a critical component for effective marketing. According to Dahlén and Lange (2009) “the quality of the product is not the evident factor when it comes to purchasing a product, the deciding factor depends on how the brand is perceived” (Para. 1). This demonstrates the importance of incorporating social media as a tool to promote brands, allow for interactions, and customer satisfaction by engaging with customers more frequently for feedbacks or reviews. Thus create an opportunity for the company to show its devotion to their customers, and initiate good reputation, which can increase sales. In other words, social media has the ability to upsurge the awareness for businesses as well as the brand.

Casa San Ysidro can leverage social media platforms to improve awareness and attract new visitors. Social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Periscope to name a few. Other tools that Casa San Ysidro can leverage include the city of Albuquerque and Albuquerque Museum webpages. The city of Albuquerque webpage includes information about Casa San Ysidro, its history, and a virtual tour which includes architectural details, interiors, and special objects. This page also lists Casa San Ysidro’s schedule of events but does not include information about upcoming events like the New Mexican Hispanic Arts Dialogue that took place on November 12, 2016. Additionally, we noticed that pictures from the Harvest Festival and other events are not uploaded to the city of Albuquerque page. We recommend adding a section on the city of Albuquerque page with pictures from past events and also continually updating information about special events on this page. Casa San Ysidro currently has an active Facebook and Twitter account, we would also recommend adding links to both profiles on the city of Albuquerque

Between November 12 -19, Whole Foods had a total of 727 original social mentions; these mentions had the potential to reach 454,2277 social accounts. Because social media is so easily shared, these original messages were amplified to another 332,742 by retweets and social shares.

In recent advertisements, Chipotle emulates the Ronald McDonald Campaign, by the appearance of the characters and scenery as something from a children’s book. This sentimental appeal seeks to connect the audience to their childhood, recalling a time in which all was right with the world. Specifically in Chipotle’s “Scarecrow” advertisement, Chipotle associates a children’s character with their product.

The company I have chosen to base my assignment on is Taco Bell. It is a leading Mexican style fast-food chain serving tacos, burritos, signature quesadillas, Border Bowls®, nachos and other specialty items. Currently, Taco Bell serves more than 35million consumers each week in approximately 5,600 restaurants in the United States of America. It is recognized as the best Mexican fast-food chains in the United States of America (Yum! Brands, 2010). This fast-food chain plans on introducing its products in Malaysia.

Television advertising for the launch included the popular commercial “Road Trip”, which shows a true story of a group of friends traveling across the US to be one the first to get the samples. The IMC strategy enjoyed instant success; the company sold over 100 million Doritos Locos Tacos in the first 10 weeks from launching. Taco Bell next launched its Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco. The company, in partnership with Frito-Lay, used an IMC strategy that included radio, outdoor, retail, TV and online advertising as well as public relations and social media promotions. Paid and earned media is what they use a lot of to advertise their brand. They want to reach consumers digitally because this is how the majority communicate rather than face to face. The company was quick to realize consumers are on social media for a majority of their time and they even sleep with their phones next to them creating a huge emphasis on their digital

Many Fast food companies target children because they are young and are good at persuading their parents to get what they want. “It’s not just getting kids to whine” (Schlosser 43). Fast food companies target kids based on what they are looking for which is money. “The decade of the child consumer” (Schlosser 43). Americans need to pay close attention to how their children spend their money. As more kids visit fast food restaurants, companies will come out with more items for kids to purchase as time goes along. More companies in America will keep targeting kids because they see an advantage in it that the reader does not see. “We see this as a great opportunity” (Scholosser 48). In the meantime, an employee at a fast food restaurant will sell fast food items to kids because they want their money in order to increase the business. As more fast food companies make sales, this will create a dynamic bond between parents and their children because the reader ponders how the fast food industry is affecting their children. As more kids leave after school to go and have something to eat with friends at a Taco Bell, or Pizza Hut, kids will buy food based on what they may be craving during lunchtime. “Research has shown children are more likely to choose foods with familiar logos” (Heyes). At some point in time, there will be millions of parents who will talk to their kids about their active interest in visiting fast food restaurants after school all of the time. The reader may

Here, Taco Bell had a customer that started a crisis for their organization, by saying that the hamburger meat used in the ingredient was not real meat. Furthermore, the customer file a lawsuit against the organization. Here, when a crisis occur the first step is to convening with your crisis management team. However, maybe only one team member is present at this crisis, it is their job to assess casualty. Once this done the terms member will contact all other crisis member were they can meet to collaborate a plan for this crisis. If there are any human injury, this step in very important crisis team out to the family member that has love  one involved in this crisis. The organization should be the first one reach to the family this show that

McDonald’s marketers convince ethnicity groups especially by showing images in advertisements to boys and girls in a young age in their specific color of choice. For instance, “"McDonald's is typically strong among Hispanic consumers because kids are an important member of the dining party, more so than in general-market consumers’, and, ‘Hispanic families are also more likely to eat with others in the restaurant as a "dining occasion vs. a fuel stop, than are general-market consumers’”, according to Bob Sandelman, president of restaurant researcher Sandelman & Associates. This means that marketers from McDonald’s knows that a Hispanic family place special importance to their children more than themselves; therefore, marketers of McDonald’s tries to convince them through advertisement that includes Spanish characters in case if kids or parents does not fully understand the English language. It also seems that

Social media plays a very large part in todays society. It influences most aspects of our lives. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest are all forms of social media that impact people’s daily lives. As we all live busy lives eating healthy has become extremely important. A healthy nutritious diet is a part of most peoples lives. Social media allows people to have access to the latest health food trends, recipes, blogs and information about cafes that offer these types of healthy foods. Dining out is also very popular in todays society. Healthy cafes are frequently seen on social media through people tagging themselves via Facebook and Instagram. Social media allows people to follow their favourite cafes which then gives them the opportunity to get a hold of the different food and recipes that that specific café offers. Savvy business owners use video and photography to improve their business and encourage healthy eating. Café dining has become extremely popular with the general public. Trendy hip organic cafes are very much the rave with brunch becoming the to go meal, smashed avocado has become very popular through this. The rise in this popularity can be linked to social media. People via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter have shared photos of café meals which has made a big impact on the cafes influence on our lives. I personally have accounts on many different social media sites that promote and share

The availability of fast food has become an easy access to the youth of America, due to an increase in fast food marketing and restaurants being built on nearly every street corner. In David Barboza’s article, If You Pitch It, They Will Eat, he explains that

Social media is quickly evolving in front of our eyes and it is almost impossible to reject and hide from this new form of media. Not only is it an important part of socialization within peer groups but now it is used to market and motivate people to become a part of a larger community. It is undeniably changing the way one communicates and how one finds and shares information. Most websites offer communication through the use of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and many various blog formats. With new apps on smartphones and photography and video made digital, media can be created, edited and shared quickly and once it is in this new digital cloud it is not yours anymore. Through these new advances in technology one can share things